THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  ILLINOIS 


NQN  CIRCULATING 

CHECK  For  JND 

CIRC 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS, 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station. 

CHAMPAIGN,  NOVEMBER,  1892. 


BULLETIN  NO.  23. 


EXPERIMENTS  WITH  OATS,  1892. 

This  bulletin  reports  results  of  the  following  experiments  with  oats 
conducted  in  1892: 

No.  12.     Oats,  quantity  of  seed  per  acre. 

No.  13.     Oats,  compact  or  loose  seed-bed. 

No.  14.     Oats,  time  of  sowing. 

No.  15.     Oats,  depth  of  sowing. 

No.  84.     Oats,  testing  varieties. 

No.  128.  Oats,  effect  of   time  and  manner  of  harvesting  upon  yield 
and  chemical  composition. 

SUMMARY. 

The  trials  were  all  made  on  the  fertile,  dark  colored  prairie  soil  of 
the  Station  grounds.  The  season  was  unfavorable  for  oats,  in  marked 
contrast  with  that  of  1891.  The  yield  per  acre  and  the  average  weight 
per  bushel  were  light.  The  rainfall  during  most  of  the  period  of  growth 
was  unusually  heavy — 19.67  inches  for  April,  May,  and  June.  In  1891 
the  rainfall  for  corresponding  months  was  6.51  inches.  The  average 
temperature  for  these  three  months  was  rather  low.  For  July  the  rain- 
fall was  2.5  inches  and  the  average  temperature  73.3^. 
RAINFALL  AND  TEMPERATURE. 


1878-87.* 
Av.  of  10  years. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

1892. 

E 

5 
5' 

Temper- 
ature. 

» 

£. 

B* 

5' 

•tg 

c  3 

3*% 
•-I 

» 

pa 

5° 
3* 

Temper- 
ature. 

» 

M 

5' 

5' 

it 

^^ 

>-t 

ja 

po 

5' 
5' 

Temper- 
ature. 

April 

3-19 
4-45 
5-04 

52-4° 
64.6 

71- 

0.61 

5  52 

6.  Si 

52° 

59.2 
655 

4.11 
3-56 

3-8 

52-3° 
58.3 
74.6 

3-54 
0.89 
2.08 

52.8° 
58.4 
72 

6.45 
7.86 
5-36 

48.6 
57-9 
70  6 

May 

June  

12.68 

12.94 

11.47 

6.51 

19.67 

*  Statistical  Report,  Illinois  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  December,  1887. 


122  BULLETIN   NO.   23.  \_November, 

The  oats  were  sown  broadcast  by  hand  in  all  trials  except  in  testing 
the  effect  of  covering  at  different  depths. 

The  yields  from  plats  sown  at  different  rates,  from  one  to  four  bush- 
els per  acre,  varied  but  little.  In  like  trials  for  five  years  the  smallest 
yields  have  been  from  seeding  at  the  rate  of  i  bu. ;  the  next  lightest,  from 
sowing  1.5  bu. ;  third  lightest,  from  sowing  4  bu.;  with  slight  differences 
from  seeding  at  rates  from  2.5  to  3.5  bu.  an  acre. 

The  yield  of  straw,  the  weight  of  grain  per  bushel,  and  the  per- 
centage of  kernel  to  husk  have  been  lowest  from  thinnest  seeding.  These 
trials  indicate  that  for  this  soil  and  climate,  when  oats  are  sown  broad- 
cast on  fairly  prepared  soil,  they  should  be  sown  at  the  rate  of  from  2.5 
to  3.5  bu.  an  acre. 

Trials  of  the  effect  of  having  the  seed-bed  loose,  medium  compact, 
or  compact  showed  results  slightly  the  best  from  having  a  medium  condi- 
tion. The  yields  from  plats  plowed  were  less  than  from  plats  disked. 
These  results  correspond  with  those  in  trials  in  three  other  years. 

Trials  to  determine  the  effect  of  sowing  at  different  dates  showed 
that  the  best  results  came  from  the  earliest  seeding.  Trials  for  four 
years  show  the  best  results  in  every  way  from  sowing  about  the  last  of 
March,  but  with  no  serious  loss  from  seeding  up  to  April  i5th. 

Trials  to  determine  the  effect  of  covering  the  seed  from  one  to  six 
inches  deep  showed  the  best  results  from  the  shallowest  covering.  The 
average  results  from  trials  for  five  years  show  a  steady  decrease  in  yield 
from  the  shallowest  to  the  deepest  covering.  In  1891  the  best  results 
came  from  covering  two  inches  deep. 

In  tests  of  59  varieties,  grown  on  70  plats,  the  average  yield  was 
39.8  bu.  an  acre,  with  an  average  weight  of  30.25  Ib.  a  bu.  Only  three 
varieties  gave  yields  over  50  bu.;  12,  over  45  bu. ;  while  14  gave  yields 
of  less  than  35  bu.  an  acre.  These  results  are  in  strong  contrast  with 
those  in  1891,  when  44  varieties  gave  an  average  yield  of  66.6  bu.  with  but 
one  falling  below  50  bu.  an  acre,  and  with  an  average  of  33.5  Ib.  a  bu. 
Comparison  of  varieties  from  results  in  1892  is  made  the  more  difficult  be- 
cause of  slight  injury  to  several  plats,  and  of  serious  injury  to  two  plats, 
by  army  worms,  and  by  the  fact  that  it  was  impossible  to  secure  all  the 
grain  from  some  plats  because  of  the  falling  of  the  straw.  Duplicate 
plats  of  each  of  six  varieties  were  sown.  In  two  cases  the  differences 
in  yields  of  these  were  surprisingly  great,  illustrating  the  difficulty 
in  deciding  on  the  value  of  varieties  from  the  yield  in  a  single  year. 
Pringle's  progress  takes  the  first  rank  for  average  yield  for  four  years 
past,  but  no  one  variety  has  had  anything  like  the  same  rank  in  all  the 
four  years. 

The  vitality  of  each  lot  of  seed  was  tested.  In  most  cases  it  was 
good,  but  in  five  lots  less  than  85  per  cent  germinated.  In  general  the 
yields  of  the  plats  where  the  seed  had  not  a  high  percentage  of  vitality 
was  low.  This  suggests  that  it  is  worth  while  to  test  the  vitality  of 
seed  oats. 


1892.]  EXPERIMENTS     WITH     OATS,     1892.  123 

The  per  cent  of  hulled  kernel  to  berry  of  all  varieties  was  69.57 ; 
the  highest,  77.43  ;  the  lowest,  62.8. 

Slightly  better  results  were  obtained  when  the  oats  were  harvested 
while  the  straw  was  still  green  and  the  kernels  mostly  in  the  dough 
stage  than  when  the  straw  was  mostly  yellow  and  the  kernels  hard. 
When  the  oats  were  allowed  to  mature  fully,  the  results  were  distinctly 
less  satisfactory.  When  the  sheaves  were  bound  and  shocked  at  once, 
the  yield  was  somewhat  better  than  when  the  cut  straw  was  allowed  to 
dry  thoroughly  before  the  sheaves  were  bound. 

The  results-  of  all  the  experiments  with  oats  tried  at  this  Station  for 
the  last  five  years  suggest  that  on  the  fertile  soil  of  central  eastern  Illi- 
nois, with  simple  methods,  we  may  expect  in  a  series  of  years  an  aver- 
age yield  an  acre  of  a  little  over  50  bushels  of  grain  and  about  one  and  one- 
half  tons  of  straw,  the  oats  weighing  rather  less  than  more  than  the 
standard  weight  of  32  Ib.  a  bushel ;  that  it  is  not  advisable  to  plow  the  land 
in  the  spring  if  the  crop  follows  corn,  the  use  of  the  disk  harrow  giving 
better  results;  that  the  seed  should  be  sown  near  the  last  of  March  or  first 
of  April ;  that  if  sown  broadcast,  it  is  better  to  sow  from  two  and  one-half 
to  three  and  one-half  bushels  per  acre,  covering  the  seed  not  more  than  one 
or  two  inches  deep  ;  that  there  is  no  one  variety  greatly  superior  to  all 
others,  so  that  it  is  not  wise  to  put  full  credence  in  the  claims  often  made 
for  new  varieties  ;  that  some  varieties  are,  however,  distinctly  better 
than  some  others;  that  neither  color  or  plumpness  of  kernels,  weight  per 
bushel,  nor  the  form  of  the  head  certainly  determines  value  ;  but  that, 
generally,  varieties  with  long,  slender,  comparatively  light  kernels  have 
the  smallest  percentage  of  husk  and,  probably,  the  greatest  feeding 
value  ;  that  early  maturing  varieties  are  to  be  preferred  to  those  ripen- 
ing later  ;  that  it  is  desirable  to  harvest  the  crop  before  it  has  fully  rip- 
ened ;  and  that  binding  and  shocking  the  sheaves  at  once  is  an  advantage 
rather  than  a  disadvantage,  if  the  grain  is  in  fit  condition  for  cutting. 

Experiment  No.  12.      Oafs,  Quantity  of  Seed  per  Acre. 

Two  series  of  seven  plats,  each  2x4  rods,  were  sown  broadcast 
with  early  Dakota  oats  April  u,  1892,  and  afterwards  seeded  with 
timothy  and  clover.  The  oats  were  sown  at  the  varying  rates  of  I,  1.5, 
2,  2.5,  3,  3.5,  and  4  bu.  (32  Ib.)  an  acre,  there  being  two  plats  sown  at 
each  rate.  The  corn  stalks  of  the  preceding  year  having  been 
removed,  the  land  was  plowed  about  four  inches  deep  three  days  before 
the  oats  were  sown. 

In  the  table  giving  results  it  will  be  seen  that  the  yield  of  grain  is 
quite  uniform,  the  minimum  being  39.2  bu.  an  acre,  from  a  plat  seeded 
at  the  rate  of  one  bushel,  and  the  maximum,  45.6  bu.  from  a  plat  seeded 
at  the  rate  of  2.5  bu.  In  general  the  yield  of  straw  increases  with 
the  thickness  of  seeding,  as  does  also  the  number  of  stubs  on  a  square 
foot.  The  size  of  berries,  per  cent  of  kernel  in  berries,  and  weight  per 
bushel  are  least  for  the  thinnest  seeding  and  increase  slightly  with  the 


124 


BULLETIN    NO.    23. 


[November, 


thickness  of  seeding.  The  thinnest  seeding  was  three  days  later  in 
ripening  than  the  thickest.  The  grass  was  slightly  poorer  on  the 
thickest  seedings,  but  not  so  much  affected  by  the  thickness  as  by  the 
lodging  of  the  oats.  The  lodging  seemed  to  bear  no  relation  to  the 
thickness  of  seeding. 

The  table  giving  the  yield  of  both  grain  and  straw  for  each  of  the 
five  years,  1888  to  1892,  shows  the  maximum  average  yield  of  grain  to 
be  from  seeding  at  the  rate  of  3.5  bu.,  with  but  slight  differences 
between  2.5,  3,  3.5,  and  4  bu.  an  acre.  In  three  of  the  five  years  the 
largest  yield  was  in  favor  of  2.5  bu.,  for  the  other  two,  in  favor  of 

3-5  bu- 

The  average  yield  of  straw  is  quite  uniform,  the  maximum  being 

slightly  in  favor  of  3  bu. 

The  average  weight  per  bushel  is  least  for  the  thinnest  seeding  and 
greatest  for  the  thickest. 

YIELDS  OF  OATS  FROM  DIFFERENT  RATES  OF  SEEDING,  1892. 


Plat 

No. 

Seed 
per 
a.,  bu. 

Stubs 
per 
sq.  ft. 

Wt.  100 
berries, 
grams. 

Per  cent 
kernel  in 
berries. 

Pounds 
per  bu. 

Yield  per  acre. 

Straw, 
Ib. 

Grain, 
bu. 

Av.  of 
straw. 

Av.  of 
grain. 

i 
8 

i 
i 

15 

22 

•77 
.66 

69.7 
69.6 

27 
24-25 

1825 
1660 

39  2  \ 
4J-9  f 

1742 

40-5 

2 
Q' 

i-5 
i-5 

21 
23 

•75 
•79 

70.7 
70.4 

28.5 
26.25 

1920 
2040 

45      \ 
4i-9  f 

1980 

43-5 

3 
10 

2 
2 

27 
21 

•85 
.85 

70.9 
70.6 

28 

28.25 

1815 
1850 

42      { 
44-71 

1832 

43-3 

4 
ii 

2-5 

2-5 

36 
30 

.84 
.80 

70.6 
71.1 

28  25 
27-75 

1930 
1940 

43-4  I 
45  6J" 

1935 

44-5 

5 

3 

29 

.96 

72.7 

29  5 

2205 

44.8) 

2IOO 

44    ^ 

12 

3 

27 

.80 

70.8 

26.75 

1995 

43-9  f 

6 
13 

3-5 
3-5 

29 

37 

.81 
.84 

70.9 
72.6 

29-5 
28 

1930 
1975 

4i.fi  I 

433  \ 

1952 

42.4 

7 

4 

38 

.89 

72.5 

28.75 

2545 

4i  7  J 

2377 

43-2 

14 

4 

53 

•77    .      71-9 

29-75 

2210 

44-7  $ 

YIELDS  OF  OATS  FROM  DIFFERENT  RATES  OF  SEEDING,  1888,  '89,  '90,  '91,  '92. 


pS? 

Grain  per  acre,  bu. 

Straw  per  acre,  Ib. 

Lb.  per  bu. 

88. 

oo 

00 

00 

CO 

CO 

> 

oo 

00 

OO 

CO 

OO 

t> 

oo 

oo 

oo 

"cr*73 

00 

oo 

vQ 

vQ 

vQ 

oo 

QC 

vQ 

VQ 

vQ 

00 

VQ 

vQ 

c  l!{ 

oo 

vQ 

0 

M 

to 

CO 

lO 

O 

H 

10 

vQ 

r 

JO 

i 

52.5 

36.3 

25.3 

36.7 

4°-5 

38.3 

3820 

4600 

2820 

1275 

1742 

2851 

25-5 

26 

28.5 

25.5 

i-5 

59-4 

33-1 

21.6 

56.9 

43-5 

42.9 

4400 

3800 

1740 

1970 

1980 

2778 

25 

26.5 

31 

27.5 

2 

61  .4 

42.5 

17.5 

74-8 

43-3 

47-9 

4540 

4000 

1800 

2748 

1832 

2984 

28 

24 

31.5 

28 

2-5 

63.8 

43-8 

29.1 

72  6 

44-5 

50.8 

4860 

3000  2460 

26^8 

1935 

2979 

28 

29 

32 

28 

3 

61.9 

47.2 

27.5 

76.6 

44-3 

51-5 

5220 

4400 

I960  2790 

2IOO 

3294 

29 

29 

32.5 

28 

3-5 

62.5 

52.1 

24.7 

79-7 

42.4 

52-3 

4400 

4IOOJ2OOO 

3060 

1952 

3IO2 

29-5 

28 

32 

28.7 

4 

60.6 

50.6 

21.9 

76.3 

43-2 

50.5 

4260 

320O  2020 

3IIO 

2377 

2993 

29.5 

29 

32 

29.2 

Experiment  No.  Ij.       Oats,    Compact  or  Loose  Seed-bed. 
The  land,  7  plats  2  by  4  rods,  was  in  corn  in  1891.     April  12,  1892, 
the  stalks  were  removed  and  early  Dakota  oats  sown  broadcast  at  the 
rate  of  2^5  bu.  per  acre. 


1892.] 


EXPERIMENTS     WITH     OATS,     1892. 


I25 


Plat  i  was  seeded,  plowed  about  4  inches  deep,  and  harrowed  once 
slightly. 

Plat  2  was  seeded,  disked,  and  harrowed. 

Plat  3  was  disked,  seeded,  harrowed,  and  rolled. 

Plat  4  was  seeded,  plowed  4  inches  deep,  and  harrowed. 

Plat  5  was  disked,  seeded,  and  harrowed. 

Plat  6  was  seeded,  disked,  harrowed,  and  rolled. 

Plat  7  was  seeded  and  harrowed  five  times. 

All  of  the  plats  were  afterward  seeded  with  timothy  and  clover  and 
again  harrowed  once  lightly. 

In  the  table  it  will  be  seen  that  the  yields  are  quite  uniform,  the 
maximum  being  47.2  bu.  from  a  plat  that  was  seeded  and  harrowed 
after  disking.  There  was  no  benefit  derived  from  rolling  after  disking 
and  the  average  yield  of  the  two  plats  that  were  plowed  was  4.5  bu. 
less  than  the  average  of  two  plats  simply  disked  and  harrowed. 

In  the  table  giving  yields  for.  four  years  it  will  be  seen  that  for 
three  out  of  the  four  years  the  maximum  yield  of  grain  was  in  favor  of 
the  medium  seed-bed  and  that  the  average  for  the  four  years  was  1.9 
bu.  greater  from  such  seed-bed  than  from  a  compact  seed-bed,  and  4.5 
bu.  greater  than  from  a  loose  seed-bed. 

NUMBER  OF  PANICLES  AND  RELATIVE  YIELD  OF  OATS  SOWN  IN  DIFFERENTLY  PREPARED 

SEED-BEDS,  1892. 


t 

Preparation  of  seed-bed. 

sz3 

cr  P  n 

fD    3    0 
3   O.  rt> 

o  5'  «- 

C  QTQ   ' 

1° 

v.   "• 

•    cr 

IT,   ^ 

r  o 

3 

r 

cr 

cr 
c 

Per  cent  ker- 
nel in  berries. 

fD"  " 

fl§ 

1? 

U3     •t 

-S3 
.89 
•71 
.81 
.87 

•  9 
•95 

Yield  per 
acre. 

s^ 
p 

c/p 

C   P. 

3 

41.9 

42.2 

43-8 
42.7 
47-2 
44-7 
40.8 

2 

4 

6 

7 

Plowed  4  in.  deep,  seeded,  and  harrowed.. 
Seeded  then  disked  and  harrowed  ...... 

40 
98 
98 
85 
100 

95 

80 

33 
34 
32 
23 

28 
28 

28 
29.25 
29.5 
25-75 
29-5 
29-75 
29-25 

71-47 
70.73 
70.61 
70.49 
70-51 

73-29 

2140 
2030 
2180 
1755 
3170 
2150 

1735 

Disked,  seeded,  harrowed,  and  rolled  
Seeded,  and  then  plowed  four  in.  deep.  .  .  . 
Disked  seeded  and  harrowed 

Seeded,  disked,  harrowed,  and  rolled  
Seeded  and  harrowed  

YIELDS  OF  OATS  FROM  COMPACT,  MEDIUM,  AND  LOOSE  SEED-BEDS,  1888,  '89,  '90,  '92. 


Seed-bed. 

1888. 

1889. 

1890. 

1892. 

Average. 

p  0 

|g. 

»    3 

CTTJ 

G  a 

s£ 
38 
?*S 

w  o 
1  1 

S°   3 

CTT3 
C    CD 

8? 

.33 
p^ 

s? 

8  S. 

fD    p 
S"3 

63 

»  S 

?"S 

.§> 

O   y 

3  3' 

CTT5 
f8    $ 

».$ 

qs 
-rt  ^ 

?1 

O 

Bg. 

3    B 

"cr^ 
C    •"» 

P  » 
q  3 
»  s 

•^l 

Compact.  .  . 

60 
66.3 
60.6 

4180 
5380 
4460. 

44.4320036.3 
47.8290032.8 
41.4330030.3 

2040 
2020 
1940 

44.2 
45-7 
42.3 

2165 
2600 

1947 

46.2 
48.1 

43-6 

2896 
3225  • 
2662 

Medium  

Loose  

Experiment  No.  14.      Oats,  Time  of  Sowing. 

Twelve  plats,  each  2  by  4  rods,  were  sown  broadcast,   two  each 
week,  from    March  30  to  May  4,  1892.     The   oats,   variety   Pringle's 


126 


BULLETIN    NO.    23. 


[  November, 


progress,  were  sown  as  follows:  plats  i,  5,  8,  10  and  12  at  the  rate  of 
31/6  bu.  (32  Ib.)  an  acre;  the  remaining  plats  at  the  rate  of  2.5  bu. 
The  land  was  in  corn  in  1891.  The  stalks  were  removed  and  the 
entire  tract  plowed  about  4  inches  deep  just  before  the  earliest  seeding. 
Each  plat  was  disked  and  harrowed  after  seeding. 

In  the  table  giving  results  it  will  be  seen  that  the  time  of  ripening 
was  delayed  one  day  for  each  week's  delay  in  seeding ;  that,  in  general,  the 
yield  of  straw  and  grain  decreased  with  the  lateness  of  seeding;  that  the 
weight  per  bushel  and  per  cent  of  kernel  in  the  berries  uniformly 
decreased  with  the  lateness  of  seeding  ;  and  that,  in  four  out  of  five 

YIELDS  OF  OATS  FROM  SOWINGS  AT  DIFFERENT  TIMES,  1892. 


R 

5 

— 

Yield,  per 

5 

a  1J 

CD    CD 

^ 

P 

Yield  per 

| 

CD    C? 

Average. 

^  o 

"? 

2 

acre. 

c 
a 
Pi 

5'  o 

acre. 

c 
a 

HT  n 

Yield  per 

gj 

crx-^ 

a" 

c 

a 

CO 

cr? 

1 

p 

CO 

p 

13  w 

cr  CD 

CD    B 

acre. 

*$  ^ 

CD    CD    CD 

n   n   >~t 

OQ 

^ 

o 

•    3 

a' 

R 

cr 

-t  rt~ 

^  i.  • 

p=| 

'    a' 

a* 

t-t   l-t- 

<-tt   w- 

Straw, 

Grain, 

crU 

<-t  a 

§'"  8 

c 

P  7 

" 

a 

w   n 

Ib. 

bu. 

.c 

1  "S'5. 

March 

30. 

22 

I 

1560 

45 

27-75 

69.57 

7 

1975 

47 

28.25 

69.73 

1767-5 

46 

28 

69.65 

April 

6. 

23 

2 

1580 

43.i 

27.5 

69.06 

8 

1460 

41.8 

27.25 

68.31 

1520 

42.4 

27-37 

68.68 

April 

13- 

24 

3 

1505 

49-8 

26 

65-25 

9 

1380 

45-6 

27.25 

67.32 

1442-5 

47-7 

26.62 

66.28 

April 

21. 

25 

4 

1325 

43-5 

26.25 

68.63 

10 

1340 

40 

24-25 

62.72 

1332.5 

4i.7 

25-25 

65.67 

April 

27. 

26 

5 

1470 

40.3 

24-25 

61.41 

ii 

M95 

44-5 

25-5 

66.2 

1482.5 

42.4 

24.87 

63.8 

May 

4- 

27 

6 

1320 

18.1 

17.25 

52.02 

12 

1330 

29-7 

20.5 

61.23 

1325 

23-9 

18.87 

56.62 

YIELDS  OF  OATS  FROM  SOWINGS  AT  DIFFERENT  TIMES,  1888,  '89,  '90,  '92. 


O 

w 

CD" 

0 

C/3 
0 
g 

5' 

QTQ 

1888. 

1889. 

1890. 

1892. 

Average 

Yield  per 
acre. 

r 

cr 

1 

cr 

c 

Yield  per 
acre. 

r 

cr 

1 
cr 
a 

Yield  per 
acre. 

r 

cr 

1 

jr 

Yield  per 
acre. 

r 

cr 

1 

cr 
c 

Yield  per 
acre. 

W 
5 

& 

O 

£. 
5* 

k 

CO 
^ 
P 
3 

cr 

O 

B. 

_5' 

cr 
c 

C/) 
n 
P 

cr 

O 

i. 

3' 

cr 
c 

in 

P 
% 

cr 

O 

w 

5' 

cr 

£ 

CO 

^ 

p 

9 

O 
P_ 
a' 

cr 

c 

March 
'14. 
March 

22. 

March 
28-31. 
April 

4-7- 
.April 
11-16. 
April 
18-21. 
April 
25-28. 
May 
4- 

28.5 
28 
28.5 
26.5 
25 

22 
21 

3600 
4600 
5200 
4000 
4000 
4100 
3700 

48.1 
41-5 
4i.3 
36.3 
33-1 
25 
9-4 

31-8 
3i 
27 

27-3 
26.8 

26.8 

3MO 
3390 
2890 
3020 
2740 
2540 

44.1 
45-1 
36.5 
30 
28.1 
19.6 

29.9 
29.1 
26.95 
26.3 
24.68 
20.89 

3870 
3452.5 
3372.5 
3370-6 
3303.1 
3185.6 

42.8 
44.1 
42.8 
41.8 

35-9 
30.2 

28 

27.37 
26.62 

25.25 
14.87 
18.87 

1767-5 
1520 

1442.5 
1332.5 
1482.5 
1325 

46 
42.4 

47-7 
41-7 
42.4 
23.9 

5080 
5020 
5040 
5020 

66.3 

56.5 
48.8 

49-4 

1892.] 


EXPERIMENTS     WITH     OATS,     1892. 


127 


cases,  where  the  two  plats  sown  at  the  same  time  were  sown  at  different 
rates,  the  larger  yield  was  in  favor  of  the  thinner  seeding. 

The  table  giving  yields  for  each  of  four  years  shows  that  in  general 
the  earliest  seedings  yield  best.  Taking  the  average  for  four  years  the 
maximum  yield  of  grain  is  in  favor  of  seeding  March  28th  to  3ist  with 
but  little  difference  any  time  between  March  2zd  and  April  i6th. 

The  weight  per  bushel  uniformly  decreases  with  the  lateness  of 
seeding. 

Experiment  No.  15.      Oats,  Depth  of  Sowing-. 

April  16,  1892,  sixty  selected  kernels  were  planted  in  each  of  twelve 
rows  10  ft.  long.  Rows  i  and  2  were  covered  one  inch  deep,  and  each 
succeeding  two  rows  one  inch  deeper,  rows  n  and  12  being  covered  six 
inches  deep.  There  was  an  extra  row  on  either  side.  The  table  gives 
the  number  of  plants  started,  number  of  panicles  harvested,  weight  of 
grain,  and  weight  of  100  kernels  for  each  row.  In  general  there  is  a 
decrease  from  the  shallowest  to  the  deepest  planting. 

YIELDS   OF   OATS   FROM   SOWINGS   AT   DIFFERENT   DEPTHS,    1892. 


Depth  of  sowing,  inches. 

Row   No. 

No.  plants 
started. 

No.  pani- 
cles har- 
vested. 

Wt.   grain, 
grams. 

Wt    100 
kernels, 
grams. 

i 

i 

60 

182 

191.5 

1.87 

i 

2 

60 

177 

226 

1-9 

2 

3 

56 

141 

178 

2.17 

2 

4 

59 

181 

211.  3 

i.95 

3 

5 

57 

i4V 

184   i 

2.0t 

3 

6 

57 

146 

1  66 

1.92 

4 

7 

56 

159 

147.7 

i-7 

4 

8 

58 

184 

173 

1.72 

5 

9 

58 

165 

149  2 

i-57 

5 

10 

6p 

190 

167.2 

i  66 

6 

ii 

53 

159 

129.4 

1-7 

6 

12 

56 

152 

133-6 

1.82 

YIELDS  OF  OATS  FROM  SOWINGS  AT  DIFFERENT  DEPTHS,  1888,  '89,  '90,  '91,  92. 


1888. 

1889. 

1890. 

1891. 

1892. 

Average. 

Depth 

V 

0 

9 

2; 

o 

00 

CD 

25 

0 

PC 

CD 

2 

o 

» 

CD 

3 

0 

P' 

* 

0 

» 

01 

of 

o 

P 

0 

P 

o 

P 

o 

P 

o 

p 

0 

P 

sowing, 
inches. 

l-h 
*$ 

<* 

CD 

1 

i' 

Hi 

"8 

CD 

•5 

§' 

!-h> 
"S 

1 

i 

< 
CD 

3 

vd 

3 

x 

3 

VJ 

d 

*< 

3 

^ 

3 

^ 

CD 

t/3 

P 

P 

PL 

CD 
• 

5) 

a 

s 

a 

EL 

i 

O. 

i 

566 

90 

407 

8! 

^62 

IOO 

205 

69 

179.5 

100 

344 

88 

2 

495 

80 

424 

69 

312 

76 

338 

100 

161 

94 

346 

84 

3 

i  465 

100 

434 

76 

307 

65 

192 

49 

146.5 

85 

309 

75 

4 

469 

95 

439 

IOO 

269 

65 

1  88 

55 

171-5 

77 

307 

60 

5 

481 

80 

181 

29 

136 

26 

177.  5 

51 

244 

46 

6 

445 

55 

75 

12 

9i 

18 

155  5 

63 

191 

37 

128  BULLETIN  NO.   23.  [November, 

The  foregoing  table  giving  results  for  each  of  five  years  shows  the 
average  relative  yield  to  be  in  favor  of  covering  one  inch  deep,  with  a 
uniform  decrease  in  yield  for  each  succeeding  inch. 

Experiment  No.    84.      Oats,    Test  of    Varieties. 

In  1892  a  test  was  made  of  59  varieties  of  oats,  or  59  samples  of 
oats  each  having  a  different  name.  Duplicate  plats  were  sown  of  each 
of  six  varieties,  and  five  plats  were  sown  with  mixtures  of  several 
varieties.  In  all  70  plats  were  sown,  each  two  by  four  rods,  or  one- 
twentieth  of  an  acre.  These  were  all  in  one  tract  of  land  nearly  square, 
and  apparently  as  uniform  in  quality  as  a  tract  of  such  size  is  likely 
to  be.  The  land  had  been  in  corn  in  1891.  The  stalks  were  burned 
about  the  first  of  April.  Each  plat  was  sowed  with  four  pounds  of 
oats,  or  at  the  rate  of  two  and  one-half  bushels  an  acre  by  weight,  the 
sowing  being  done  by  hand.  The  ground  was  first  disked.  Except 
three,  all  the  plats  were  sown  April  nth  to  i3th.  All  the  plats  were 
disked  after  the  sowing.,  and  the  whole  tract  was  twice  harrowed  after 
being  sown  with  timothy  and  clover,  April  i5th,  i6th.  The  three 
extra  plats  were  sown  April  i6th.  The  slight  difference  in  time  of 
sowing  made  no  perceptible  difference  in  yield.  The  weather  was 
fairly  favorable  and  the  soil  in  moderate  condition  as  to  dryness. 
Excessive  rains  began  soon  after,  continuing  until  the  middle  of  June. 

The  vitality  of  the  seed  of  each  variety  was  tested  in  the  Geneva 
apparatus.  Nine  varieties  showed  perfect  germination  power;  of  nine 
varieties  the  per  cent  germinating  was  less  than  90,  the  lowest,  74;  next 
lowest  So.  The  average  yield  of  the  nine  with  highest  per  cent  was 
four  bushels  per  acre  more  than  the  average  of  the  nine  with  lowest 
germinating  power. 

The  harvest  was  unusually  late,  the  oats  being  cut  from  July  23rd 
to  August  4th.  In  1891  harvest  began  July  6th  and  was  completed 
July  24th,  with  the  exception  of  one  variety. 

DUPLICATE  PLATS. 

Duplicate  plats  were  sown  of  each  of  six  varieties,  the  plats  being 
distributed  over  the  tract  as  well  as  practicable.  The  results  are  given 
in  the  table.  In  three  cases  the  difference  in  yield  was  less  than  two 
bushels  per  acre;  in  three,  from  four  to  eight  bushels.  There  were 
striking  differences  in  average  height  and  weight  per  bushel.  These 
differences  in  results  from  plats  of  the  same  varieties,  where  the  attempt 
was  made  to  have  treatment  alike,  emphasize  the  need  of  caution  in 
drawing  conclusions  from  results  of  variety  tests.  (See  table,  p.  129}. 

YIELD. 

The  average  yield  of  grain  for  the  70  plats  was  39.9  bu.  an  acre. 
Not  counting  three  plats,  two  of  which  were  much  injured  by  the  army 
worm,  and  the  third  of  a  variety  unsuited  to  this  climate,  the  average 
yield  was  at  the  rate  of  40.7  bu.  an  acre.  In  1891  fifty-five  plats  gave 


1892.] 


EXPERIMENTS     WITH     OATS,     1892. 


129 


YIELD  OF  DUPLICATE  PLATS  OF  OATS,  1892. 


Name  of  variety. 

Yield  p 

er  acre 

|P 

S-S 

?i 

P 

•s 

Q* 

E 

<W 

o* 

? 

•2  s. 
»l 

r! 

^  OTQ 

2.  =r 

(T)    "»• 
_C/3     M 

Per  cent 
in  be 

Grain, 
bu. 

Straw, 
Ib. 

P 

P 

a 
o 

cr 

CO 

• 

1 

OQ    O 
-I    0 

p 

• 

3.8T 

CD   n 
v>    3 

*    SL 

Pringle's  progress  

48  8 

23IQ    2 

48 

3O    2  5 

4Q 

2    14 

72    6^ 

5^  Q 

2206  8 

78 

2Q    7S 

48 

31 

2    12 

77  .  T  K 

Calsarrv  srav 

46  3 

1578    2 

06 

32 

38 

34 

2    OQ 

76    44 

ii           it                 ^               1 

CA       C 

2214    2 

27 

00 

47 

37 

2    08 

77    43 

Bicket's  Columbia  

42    3 

1635  6 

21 

28     S 

OQ 

32 

2    32 

74    21 

41    7 

2274    2 

21  .  c 

48 

28 

2    17 

73    OQ 

4O.2 

IQ42  .4 

•  SI 

31  .2S 

46 

36 

2   «;«; 

74    48 

42    2 

T46o 

08 

'27    S 

36 

28 

2    S3 

73    28 

White  bonanza             

3Q    2 

1871 

4Q 

00       C 

3Q 

21 

2    S 

68    OQ 

4O    IS 

2229    2 

73 

2C  .  2S 

4S 

24 

2    S7 

68    24 

Welcome  

41    6 

2643    4 

08 

34    7  5 

48 

32 

2    3 

72    34 

37    1 

1718  6 

^6 

03    75 

47 

26 

2    2Q 

67    c 

an  average  yield  of  66.6  bu.  an  acre.  The  average  yield  of  straw  in 
1892  was  at  rate  of  2025  Ib.  an  acre,  compared  with  2840  Ib.  in  1891. 
The  largest  yield  was  56.3  bu.  an  acre.  Three  varieties  gave  yields 
over  50  bu.;  nine,  between  45  and  50;  seventeen,  between  40  and  45; 
twenty-one,  between  35  and  40;  six,  between  30  and  35;  and  eight, 
less  than  30  bu.  per  acre.  Slight  injury  was  done  to  several  plats  by 
army  worms,  but  this  was  not  serious  .except  in  the  case  of  two  plats 
which  gave  the  smallest  yields.  The  difference  in  condition  of  the  plats  as 
to  lodging  of  the  straw  affected  the  yield.  The  average  per  cent  of 
husked  kernel  to  berry  was  70.34  in  the  seed  and  69.57  in  the  crop.  In 
each  case  the  average  was  lower  than  that  for  the  crop  of  1891.  The 
feeding  value  of  oats,  obviously,  largely  depends  on  the  percentage  of 
husked  kernel  to  the  whole  berry.  There  are  striking  differences  in 
this  respect,  but  these  differences  are  not  constant.  Almost  without 
exception,  however,  varieties  with  short,  plump  kernels,  show  a  larger 
per  cent  of  husk  than  those  with  long,  slender  kernels. 

Tests  of  varieties  for  four  years  [p.  JJ4]  have  failed  to  show  that  any 
one  variety  is  superior  to  all  others  in  any  marked  degree.  No  variety 
has  had  the  same  rank  for  the  f ouryears.  Pringle's  progress  stands  high- 
est. For  three  years  out  of  the  four  it  has  given  the  second  largest 
yield,  and  the  average  yield  for  the  four  years  is  nearly  three  bushels 
larger  than  that  of  New  Dakota  gray,  which  stands  second.  Following 
these  are  seven  varieties,  the  average  yields  of  which  for  the  four  years 
vary  scarcely  more  than  one  bushel  an  acre.  There  are  12  or  15 
varieties,  the  average  yields  of  which  vary  less  than  trials  show  may  be 
expected  where  the  same  variety  is  treated  on  different  plats.  Among 
these 'are  varieties  ripening  at  different  times,  differing  in  color,  shape  of 
head,  etc.  Early  ripening  varieties  have  obvious  advantages  over  those 
which  ripen  late.  The  variety  known  as  Virginia  winter  is  not 


1 3o 


BULLETIN    NO.    23. 


[  November, 


SYNOPSIS  OF  VARIETIES. 


Yield,  bu.   Av. 


j  Pringle's  progress 57.3  | 

/  Early  Dakota   38.2  )" 

f  White  wonder 45.03  1 

Second  premium 34-9 

I   White. .J  Early  Lackawana .28.1 

White  bonanza 39.6 

Welcome    39.5 

Badger  queen 32.5 

Clydesdale 35.7 

,'  Canada  white 35.8    ! 

" '}  White  Victoria 37.9    [ 

Hopetown 29.5 

White  Belgian 29.2 

•j  Panicles  open -j  Prize  cluster 40.9 

Hargett's  white 37.9 

Centennial 41.2 

Race  horse 38.8 

Early  Archangel 48.7   j 

Dun ....  ^  Long. . .  -{  Texas  rust  proof 42.2 

f  Simpson 39.     } 

Swedish 39.2 

American  banner 48 

White  schonen 41.8 

fLong. ..     Improved  American 47.6      43. 

Improved  white  Russian  43.9 

White  Russian 41.8 

Shropshire 49.  i 

White. J  •••44'4   J 

White  Swede 37.7  ") 

Egpytian 17.9 

Wide  awake 44.8 

j  Prolific  side 43  5 

ro  [Short ..-(  Pride  of  Grant  county  .. 48.1    ,-35.1 

Panicles  open j  \  Thousand  fold _  *9-8 

Surprise 28.7 

I  Royal  Victoria 38.9    i 

^  IVictoria 36.3   J 

5 

Dun....  |  Long...  {  Texas  rust  proof 40.2 

f  White..]  Short..  ]  B^-hite 37.9    >34.5 

I,  Panicles  closed....-; 

I  Black . .  -j  Long. . .  -{  Black  prolific 46.6 

(  American  triumph 32.8  J 

f  Long...  <  Common  mixed 38  /*37.8 

^Seizure 428  \ 

White.,  i 

(  Probsteir 21.6  ) 

Short ..  -j  Bicket's  Columbia 42  >-32.8 

(  Hungarian  hybrid 37.8  } 

f  Panicles  open, -j  (  t  Black  Highlander 38.3 

Black..  K  Long. ..  •<  Canadian  black 30.8 

f  Prince  Edward's  Island 43.1 


I  Panicles  closed 


i  i  New  red  rust  proof 56.3 

Dun.. ..-;.  Long...  •<  Texas  red   41.7 

(  /Virginia  winter.. 25.4 

f  \H7K-*       JT  j  Giant  yellow  French 

f  Whlte-  •  \  Lon8- ' '  1  Golden  giant  side 


37.4 
46.4 


(  (  New  Dakota  gray  ....................  41.7 

I  Black..  -;  Long...  •<  Black  Tartarian  .....................  42.6 

(  I 


New  Dakota  gray 

Black  Tartarian 

Dakota  .............................  39.9 


adapted  to  this  climate.  The  variety  called  Simpson  has  been  grown 
on  one  farm  near  Clinton,  111.,  for  more  than  35  years.  It  gave  about 
an  average  yield,  was  of  light  weight,  with  a  good  percentage  of  hulled 
kernel.  This  is  of  interest  from  the  fact  that  central  Illinois  is  not 


,892.] 


EXPERIMENTS     WITH     OATS,     1892. 


COMPARATIVE  YIELD  OF  VARIETIES  OF  OATS,   1892. 


Plat 
No. 


Name  of  variety. 


New  red  rust  proof 


i  Pringle's  progress  (Av.) 


36 

39  &  i 

38  &  7    j  Calgarry  gray  (Av.) 50.4 

58  Shropshire   49.1 

64  Early  Archangel 48.7 

60  i  Pride  of  Grant  county. ..  48.1 

26  American  banner 48 

35  Improved  American 47.6 

42  Black  prolific 46.6 

56  Mixture 46.6 

54  Golden  giant  side 46.4 

2  White  wonder 45 

33  Wideawake 44.8 

61  Scottish  chief 44.4 

46  Black  Russian 44*2 

48  Improved  white'  Russian|43.9 

34  Prolific  side 43.5 

59  Prince  Edward's  Island.  43.1 

68  Seizure 42.8 

43  ;  _        Black  Tartarian 42.6 

19  ~         Mixture 42.4 

44  &  13  ,  Bicket's  Columbia  (Av.)  42 

30  White  schonen 41.8 

52  White  Russian 41.8 

37  Texas  red 41.7 

29  New  Dakota  gray 41.7 

22  Centennial 41.2 

25  &  70     Texas  rust  proof  ( Av. ). . .  41.2 

20  |  Prize  cluster 40.9 

69  Dakota 39.9 

6  &  8       White  bonanza  (Av.) 39.6 

45  Mixture 139.5 

47  &  9       Welcome  (Av.) 39.5 

23  Swedish 39.2 

28  Japan 39.1 

10  Mixture 39 

62  Simpson 39 

66  Royal  Victoria 38.9 

40  '•  Racehorse 38.81 

49  Black  Highlander 38.3 

41  Mixture 38.2] 

15  Early  Dakota 138.2' 

55  Common  mixed 138 

16  White  Victoria 37.9 

21  Hargett's  white 37.9 

27  Baltic  white. .    37.9 

53  Giant  yellow  French 37.4 

67  Victoria.... 363 

14  Canada  white 35-8 

12  Clydesdale 35.7 

3  Second  premium 34.9' 

57  !     Hungarian  hybrid 34-8 

4  White  Swede '34.7 

32  American  triumph |32-S 

11  Badger  queen 32.5 

51  Canadian  black 30.8 

63  Thousand  fold 129. 8 

17  Hopetown 29.5 

18  White  Belgian 29.2 

65  Surprise 28.7 

5  Early  Lackawana r^'1! 

50  Virginia  winter 125. 4) 

31  Probstier 21.6 

24  Egyptian 17.9' 


Comparative  yield. 


thought  to  have  a  climate  favorable  for  the  production  of  oats   of  the 
best  quality. 

The  lessons  from  these  variety  tests  are  negative  rather  than  posi- 
tive. We  may  safely  distrust  the  statements  by  seedsmen  that  their 
favorite  variety  will  certainly  give  phenomenally  large  crops.  Conclu- 
sions from  the  results  of  the  trials  in  1892  should  be  drawn  with  more 
than  usual  caution,  because  of  the  very  different  behavior  of  different 
varieties  as  to  lodging,  and  the  fact  that  some  injury  was  done  to  several 
plats  by  army  worms. 


I32 


BULLETIN    NO.    23. 


[  November, 


Per  cent 
standing 
when  cut.  .  . 


tnornooooooinoooininmoomminoooomoinoin 


o 
m 


cs  o  o  M  c\ 


Stubs  per  sq.  ft. 


Tf  -tf-O    M    O    >H 


OO  VO    N    M 
NNPOrO 


O    M    o    m 
NPOPON 


OO  O  00  O    ^  M  vo 


,«  fl 

G  '"    co 


In 
crop. 


m  o  N  o    •<*• 


PO  t^OO    Tt-O  00 


PO  t^*  ^-oo 


PO 

in  m 


In  seed. 


rro>r>-incxD  N  mt^o  o  maiw  o  t^ 

t>.vO  vO  vO  O  O    t-^vo    t^  t^vO  VO    t^  t^-vO 


moo  m  ON  M  M  mo  oo  o  •*• 

O  vO  O  vO    t^  t^  C^vO    t^O  vO    t^ 


In 

crop. 


'^-N   -<*-oo  in  ro 


60  I   In  seed. 


Ripe,  July 


Height,  inches. 


O^oo   O  inTj-oco   moooo  r^mo>pomoooo   ^«   Tt-McxjO   MVO  mco  mooo 


Pounds  per  bu. 


inm       in 


inin       in       inmmin       in 


Lb.  straw  per 
bu.  grain. 


voo 

MVO 


mOO~POinPO 


M 


Yield  pe 


Straw, 
Ib. 


N          O  00  00  N    N     Tf  TTVO     ^  N  O  00  00    M     ^"O  O          00     •*•          •f  (N     ^-  M 

O>  o^  M  criO   MOO  o^popompomm  POO   -^-O  MNomNM«>jPOOPO  rooo 
o  PON  o  <^o  o  M  o  t^  POOO  N   TTO  PO  t^oo  o 


M  r^w 
PO  o   "i 


rO  •<*•  PO   Hi     rJ--^-pOPO-^-'<*- 


Per  cent 

germinated. 


OOOMOOOOOO 
OOOOO^OO^O^O^ 


? ;  il  i  r. 


t     • 


PQ     . 


llil;||  fj!1  |i 

uequW^K^SpHffiuwWH<i«^^> 


Plat  No. 


1892.] 


EXPERIMENTS     WITH     OATS,     1892. 


133 


ominooooo 
O   t^t^-M  in  o   ON  o 


ON  mvo  oo  coo  r-^  M  o   M  m 


01  ON  O   MO 


co   co  mo   TJ-  ON  N   MOO  m  o  o 


o  oo 
iNN 


TJ-  O    CO  ON  CO  ON  "3-00  OONOOOOmmMMNOOOCO 


N   O   ooooo 


CO  CO  CO  CO  CO  N    N    N    CO  CO- 


O  oo   >H   t^  in  co  t^  t^oo  M   cooo   ^oo  vo  N  r~-  o  cooo  v~>  ^  •rt-oo   O  t^oo  o  m  N  N   M   M  oo  inoo  in  N   N  vo 


MIOOO   o   N 


OOOO  ooo  incovo  O  cooo  o^coooo  •^-t^-cocooo 
>->  ^00  M  MOO  -^-ino  N  in<^>-<  M  t^ONt^vo  M 
t^vovo  o  ^o  t-^N  TJ-  t^  in  M  cot^-oo  TJ-VO  COM. 


§T)-  O  O    O  00    O  O         OOOO 
00    O    ON  O    ON  O    ON         ON  l> 


VOOOOOVOOOVO'^-NN 


O    ^vO    ^  O 
ON  O^  O^  ON  ON 


G  .1  S 


ar^2:  "Mgi 

«a    .     ^  S  rt 

O       W       •> 

•E  .2  -     -  £• 


§1 


o    •  o 

o-o  %, 


t  - 

c3  O     CO        -    fj 

5D   M  ^i-Jo^ 

0         ON  §  U      -CJ  Q 

a?  ^   -=  M    ^^ 


.      C       3     5 

c/)P  Ucn 


c/ 


W  od  W 


'34 


BULLETIN    NO.    23. 


[November, 


The  seed  of  the  mixtures  #,  £,  c,  ^,  c  was  composed  of  equal  parts 
of  the  following  varieties:  mixture  tf,  Pringle's  progress  and  early 
Dakota;  b,  white  bonanza,  white  Swede,  early  Lackawanna  and 
second  premium;  c,  black  Russian  and  new  Dakota  gray;  d,  new 
Dakota  gray  and  improved  American;  e^  white  Russian  and  golden 
giant  side.  [See  also  table  on  p. 


YIELD  OF  THIRTY  VARIETIES  OF  OATS  TESTED  FOUR  YEARS. 


Grair 

i  per 

acre,  bi 

i. 

Name  of  Variety. 

li 

S89. 

if 

5go. 

IJ 

59i. 

ii 

$9*. 

> 
< 

(D 

5^ 

B3 

3 
W 

CO 
p 

» 

P 

a 

7T 

td 

c 

5? 

!C 

W 

c 

* 

P 
p 
?r 

ta 

09 

OQ 
CD 

Pringle's  progress 

2O 

40 

3 

48  I 

2 

yq 

2 

ei    o 

S4    6 

New  Dakota  gray   

17 

41  .  3 

7 

3Q    4 

I 

8s 

1  1 

417 

si  8 

Japan 

47    c 

6 

4O    3 

7S    8 

17 

•3Q      I 

New  red  rust-proof 

23 

36  q 

4S 

2  I 

64  6 

I 

s6  q 

ju.  / 

Early  Dakota       .... 

2 

Si    3 

2 

48  8 

23 

63    7 

18 

38    2 

ju-  / 
so  ^ 

Texas  rust-proof  

3° 

30 

I 

cc   q 

8 

72    2 

13 

41     2 

4Q    8 

Improved  American  

3 

SO.  3 

2q 

2S    S 

c 

75    2 

47    6 

40    5 

American  Banner  

7 

46.3 

2S 

30  6 

26 

77    4 

3 

48 

40    5 

Black  Russian 

14 

42    S 

40  6 

IO 

7o   8 

8 

44    2 

Giant  yellow  French  

i 

53.8 

17 

34-4 

15 

69.2 

21 

37-4 

48    7 

White  bonanza  

6 

46    3 

IO 

37   S 

13 

7O    3 

1C 

3q  6 

48    4 

Prize  cluster  

II 

42    8 

II 

37    2 

12 

7O.  S 

14 

40  q 

47    8 

Welcome 

12 

42    6 

8 

38 

17 

68  4 

16 

3q   s 

47    I 

\Vhite  Russian 

IO 

42    4 

28 

26  6 

76    4 

IO 

41    8 

47 

Black  prolific 

24 

36  q 

i^ 

•3  c  q 

16 

68  7 

46  6 

47 

Clydesdale        

8 

44    I 

22 

33    8 

7" 

73    I 

1    22 

3S    7 

46    7 

Common  mixed  

e 

47    2 

24 

31    Q 

18 

67    2 

iq 

38 

46    I 

Badger  queen  

T8 

40  6 

q 

37  8 

ii 

70  6 

24 

32    ^ 

4S    4 

White  wonder  

T6 

42.1 

16 

35  6 

26 

58  7 

6 

4S 

4S    3 

Wide  awake 

47  8 

26 

28  6 

27 

s8  3 

44    8 

43   q 

Hopetown 

1C 

A'Z     I 

12 

3  S   q 

18 

67    7 

1   26 

2q   S 

43    8 

Centennial  

22 

36    Q 

23 

33    4 

24 

62    3 

12 

41    2 

43    4 

Hargett'  s  white  

21 

37  2 

18 

34    4 

25 

61   i 

2O 

37   9 

42    6 

American  triumph  
White  Belgian    . 

25 
28 

35-6 

31    Q 

27 

21 

27.8 
33    8 

M 

Q 

69.7 

7O    Q 

23 
27 

32.8 

2Q    2 

41-5 
41    4 

Black  Tartarian  
Probstier  ...        

29 

I9 

30.6 
40 

20 

1C 

33-8 
3S    6 

28 
2O 

58.3 

6s 

9 
2q 

42.6 

21    6 

41-3 

40  s 

Egyptian   . 

15 

42    S 

14 

35  q 

22 

64.1 

3O 

17   9 

4O    I 

Canadian  black  

26 

33.8 

ig 

M.4 

2q 

S5  .7 

25 

30  8 

38.7 

Virginia  winter 

27 

32    2 

30 

2O 

3O 

ICQ 

28 

2S    4 

23    4 

Experiment  128.      Time  and  Manner  of  Harvesting. 

For  each  of  the  years  1891  and  1892  trials  have  been  made  to 
determine  the  effect  of  time  and  manner  of  harvesting  oats.  In  the 
table  is  given  for  each  year  the  average  results  from  six  plats  harvested 
early,  six  when  medium  ripe,  six  when  fully  ripe,  and  of  six  plats  which 
were  bound  and  shocked  soon  after  cutting,  six  cut  and  allowed  to  dry 
thoroughly  in  the  swath  before  being  bound,  and  of  six  where  the 
heads  were  cut  off,  leaving  most  of  the  stalk  standing.  There  are  no 
very  striking  differences  shown,  except  in  the  case  of  the  plats  cut  late 


1892.] 


EXPERIMENTS     WITH     OATS,     1892. 


'35 


in  1892.  This  result  was  in  part  due  to  the  fact  that  some  of  these 
plats  were  not  so  favorably  situated  as  some  of  the  others  in  the  experi- 
ment. In  each  year  the  best  results  were  obtained  where  the  sheaves 
were  bound  and  shocked  soon  after  cuttting.  The  explanation  is  not 
readily  given,  but  the  facts  seem  to  show  that  this  ordinary  practice  is  a 
good  one.  Striking  differences  in  the  yield  in  the  two  years  are 
shown,  and  equally  striking  differences  in  the  weight  per  bushel.  The 
variety  was  not  the  same.  In  1891  welcome  oats  were  used,  in  1892 
Pringle's  progress. 

*YIELD  OF  OATS,  FORTY-FOUR  VARIETIES  TESTED  THREE  YEARS. 


Variety. 


Pringle's  progress 

Texas  rust  proof 

New  Dakota  gray 

New  red  rust  proof 

Black  Russian 

Japan 

American  banner 

Texas  red 

Black  prolific 

Early  Dakota 

Improved  white  Russian 

Prize  cluster 

Improved  American 

Second  premium 

Golden  giant  side 

White  bonanza 

Welcome 

White  Russian 

Clydesdale   

White  Victoria 

Prince  Edward's  Island. 
Giant  yellow  French. . .  . 

Badger  queen , 

White  schonen 

Baltic  white 

Black  Highlander 

White  wonder 

Centennial   

White  Swede 

Common  mixed 

Canada  white 

Prolific  side 

Swedish 

Black  Tartarian , 

White  Belgian 

Hargett's  white , 

Hopetown 

Wide  awake 

American   triumph 

Early  Lackawana 

Probstier 

Canadian  black 

Egyptian    , 

Virginia  winter 


1890. 


448. 

i  55- 
939- 
545 
7,40. 
840. 
28J3o 
249. 


1891. 


348. 


31 


26. 


3225 
641 
2233 
1237 
1038 
3026 
33 


H.37 
253i 
1835 


2i  33 
26  3i 

1436 
i835 
2730 
2033 
2033 
1934 
1635 
2828 
29 


i 
9 
4 
i 
6 

6 
7 
9 

8 

5 

.2 

•5 

.2 

0 

.6 

.8 
•  9 

•4 
.8 

.0 
3 
3 
6 

4 
,  i 

-9 

-4 
-3 
•9 
.8 
.8 
•4 
•9 
.6 
27.8 


1934 

16  35 
33  20 


379 

10  72.2 
185 

28  64.6 

13  70.8 

575-8 

773-4 
3460.8 
1968.7 

3163-7 
280.3 

15  70.5 
675.2 

11  72 
2168 

16  70.3 
2068.4 

476.  . 

873-1 
2466.6 
2466.2 
i8|69.2 
1470.6 
2367.2 
2367. 
26  65.5 

3558.7 
32  62.3 

972.3 
2367.2 
3063.0 
3756. 
2765 
3658.3 

12  70. 
3361. 
2267. 


1892. 


17  69.7 
2566.2 
2765 

3855.7 
29  64  .  I 

39  15-9 


251-3 
16  41.2 

I54I-7 
1  56.3 
944.2 

21  39-i 
348 


46.6 
38.2 


23 


1  8 


25 


26 


io  43-9 
40.9 
47-6 

2934-9 
46.4 
39-6 
39-5 
41.81 

35-7 

37-9 

43- 

37-4 

32-5 

14 

2537-9 

2238, 
745 

1641.2 

3034-7 
24 
27 
43-5 

2039-2 


42.6 
29.2 
37-9 


3429- 
844-8] 

3i  32.8 
36  28.  ij 
3821.6] 
3330.8! 
39  17-9; 
37125-4 


59-5 

564 

55-4 

55  3 

5i-9 

5i-7 

50.7 

50.7 

504 

50.2 

50-2 

49  5 

49-4 

49  3 

49  2 

491 

48.6 

48-3 

47-5 

47-i 

47-i 

47 

47 

47 

468 

46  8 

46  4 

46 

46 

457 

45-4 

45  2 

45  n 

449 

44-6 

44  5 

44  4 

43-6 

43  4 

42.4 

40  7 

4°  3 

39-3 

20.4 


*  This  table  goes  with  table  on  p.  134. 


I36 


BULLETIN    NO.    23. 


\No-vember,  1892. 


VARIETIES  OF  OATS  CLASSIFIED  AS  TO  YIELD,  WEIGHT,  PER  CENT  OF  KERNEL,  1892 


Classification. 

a 

0 

o 

J-t> 

"2- 
sT 

Yield  per 
acre. 

r 

cr 

CO 

?3 

OQ    * 

5    0* 

a  -« 

'  § 

cr 

r 

cr 

1 

cr 
p 

No.  stubs  one  sq.  ft. 

n> 
I 

5' 

Wt.of  100 
berries, 
grams. 

Per  cent 
of  kernel 
in  berries. 

O 

£ 
5" 

cr 
a 

Cfl 

9 

? 

0 

en 

i 

r* 

p 
o 

3 
"? 

3 

8 
p, 

C 

3 

tJ 

70.09 
70.05 
68.13 

68.6 

70.41 

69-3 
69.49 
72.7 
70.1 
67.5 
69.4 
69.7 

68.7 

72.6 
71.1 
67.7 
72.8 
66.98 

Maturing  early  

*? 
18 

33 

37 
53 

12 

5 

58 

12 
25 

45 
54 

16 
39 
3i 
3i 

39 

40-15 
40.2 

38.75 
36.8 

42.5 
39-25 
41.8 
41.2 
39-36 
42.05 
38.2 
40.7 

38.7 

43-6 

41.7 

37-4 
42.92 

37-35 

2131 

1901 
2039 
2141 
1921 
2072 
1909 

1793 
2028 
2007 
2152 
1954 

2065 

1887 
1999 

2057 
1976 
2063 

1.69 
1.56 
1-73 
1.91 

1-43 
1.72 

1-43 

1.49 
1.69 
1.49 
1.79 
1.58 

1.74 

1.36 
1-57 
1.77 

i.45 
1.82 

32.65 
29.91 
27.1 
32.42 
28.3 
31  .01 

27-33 
29-55 
3i 

26.58 

33-5 
28.44 

30.78 

29.8 
29.8 
30.7 
30.7 
29.8 

20 
29 
29 
27 
30 
28 
29 
32 
29 
27 
29 
29 

28 

33 
29 

28 

3i 
27 

46 

44 
45 
46 

44 
46 
45 
44 
45 

446 
45 

46 

44 

45 
46 

45 

46 

2.5 
2.42 

2.54 
2-54 
2.42 
2.49 
2.39 
2.59 
2-47 
2.51 
2.56 
2-43 

2-59 

2.  II 

2.47 
2.48 
2.36 

2.57 

2.31 

2.28 
2.06 

2-33 
2.14 
2.27 
2.06 
2.29 
2.26 
2.13 
2-38 
2.15 

2.27 
2.13 

2.2 
2.28 
2.23 
2.24 

69.8 
70.05 
71.14 
68.4 
72.1 

69-5 
72.2 

74-7 
70.2 
71.05 
68.9 

7r 

76.1 
71.2 

73-1 
66.9 
72.2 
68.8 

Maturing  medium  

Maturing  late 

Berries   short  plump    

Berries   long  slender    

Berries,  white  

Berries   black 

Berries   dun-colored            . 

Panicles   open   •.... 

Panicles,  closed  

Wt.  per  bu.,  32  Ib.  or  more 
Wt.  per  bu.  ,  less  than  32  Ib  

Wt.  of  seed  per  100  berries,  2.25 
grams  or  more  

Wt.  of  seed  per  100  berries,  less 
than  2.25  grams  

Kernel  in  seed,  70%  or  more  
Kernel  in  seed,  less  than  70$ 
Kernel  in  crop,  70$  or  more  
Kernel  in  crop,  less  than  70$  .... 

EFFECT  OF  TIME  AND  MANNER  OF  HARVESTING  OATS  AT  DATES  AND  UNDER 
CONDITIONS  GIVEN. 


Date. 

Stage  of  Ripeness. 

Yield  per 
acre. 

4 

cr 

cr  ~ 

CD    M 
n  o 
2.o 

P 

Per  cent 
kernel  in 
berries. 

Lb. 
Straw. 

Bu. 
Grain. 

1891. 
July  6. 

"    ii. 

"    17. 

Stems   green,  ^   leaves  green,  kernels 
mostly  in  milk 

2887 
2619 
2179 

3180 

3179 
1307 

64-4 
63-9 
59-4 

63.1 
56.5 
65.4 

34 
34-7 
34-5 

54 
34-7  . 
34-5 

2.31 

2.43 
2.46 

2.46 
2.38 
2.39 

69.8 

71-3 
71.2 

70.8 
71.7 
69.8 

Kernels  mostly  in  dough,  some  hard  . 
Fully  ripe  

Bound  and  shocked  in  ordinary  man- 

Loose  till  dry,  then  bound  and  shocked 
Heads  removed 

1892. 
July  16. 

"      22. 

"    30- 

Stems  green,  ^  leaves  green,  kernels 
mostly  in  dough,  some  in  milk  
Oats  mostly  hard,  some  in  dough  .... 
Fully    ripe  

1656 
1740 
1284 

1892 
1770 

1020 

45-1 
45-9 
33 

45-5 
42.8 
35-6 

26.25 
25-7 
25-4 

26.5 
25-9 
25-9 

2.31 

2.22 
2.25 

2.27 
2.27 
2  .  22 

67.58 
66.7 
66 

67.6 
66 
66.6 

Bound  and  shocked  in  ordinary  man- 
ner  ... 

Loose  till  dry,  then  bound  and  shocked 
Heads  removed  

G.  E.  MORROW,  A.M.,  Agriculturist. 

F.  D.  GARDNER,  B.S.,  Assistant  Agriculturist. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 


